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The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.
Welcome to the real Africa—told through food, memory, and truth.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

Stubborn Mule African Proverb

When you receive advice from a clever African Proverb and you are too stubborn to follow advice, do not be surprised at the pitiable results.

Clever African Proverb


You roll your eyes and say I know, I know, but, in the end, a tree falls on you and you die - African Proverb

What is stubbornness.

Stubbornness is basically a rooted resistance to change. Moreover, given that life is all about change, stubbornness is effective resistance to life itself. A fundamental resistance drives the person with stubbornness to being forced to do anything or experience anything against his will.

The personality with stubbornness is over-sensitive to the possibility of having sudden or unwanted change imposed and sees the threat of it everywhere. Anything new, different, or involving change is perceived as a direct threat even if the change in question is positive and in the person’s best interests.

In the case of stubbornness, the early negative experiences typically consist of domestic instability or upheaval and the stress of having to suddenly put up with new situations. The situations causing such stress could be beyond the parents’ control, such as having to uproot in a time of war.

The cumulative effect is a desperate desire for stability and familiarity, to stay put and have everything nailed into place, and to fend off anything new or unfamiliar.

Because of this constant fear, the individual will crave permanence, stability and predictability. Therefore, the basic coping strategy is to resist change and any possibility of change.

The chief feature of stubbornness will often insist nothing is wrong in the first place, no matter what evidence there is to the contrary, but once illness has occurred, it then strives to continue the pattern so that nothing so dangerous as new improvement is permitted.

All people are capable of this kind of behavior. When it dominates the personality, however, one is said to have a chief feature of stubbornness.

A short cut is often a wrong cut.


When you receive advice that you refuse to follow, do not be surprised at the results.

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

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African woman farmer

She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
Yet the land, the credit, and the recognition still belong to someone else.

Read her story →

To every mother of millet and miracles —
thank you.

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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.